1581 Earthquake: Yanaoca, Peru
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Yanaoca, Peru in 1581, 15 km below the surface.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- 1581
- Place
- Yanaoca, Peru
- Magnitude
- 6.4
- Focal depth
- 15 km (9 mi)
- Intensity
- 10 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 14.100° S, 71.500° W
- Country
- Peru
The toll
- Deaths
- Many (about 101 to 1,000)
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
According to the recollections of old citizens of Lima, compiled years later by the Viceroy the Count of illar [41, in that year there was a great earthquake, the date of which is unknown. In the Chronicles of the province of Charcas, Brother Diego de Mendoza [7] mentioned another earthquake which destroyed the village of Yanaoca, situated some twenty four leagues from Cuzco, with all its inhabitants. (reference #1111)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- September 17, 1707, Cuzco, Peru
- November 4, 1913, Amyaraes, Abancay, Casaya, Soraya, Peru
- May 21, 1950, Cusco, Peru
- July 23, 1991, Maca, Chivay, Yanque, Peru
- January 31, 1943, Yanacoa, Pampamarca, Peru
- June 24, 1939, Pomacanchi, Peru
- April 5, 1986, Cuzco, Peru
- April 9, 1928, Peru
- August 15, 2016, Arequipa, Peru
- September 28, 2014, Paruro Province, Peru
- October 15, 1971, Apurimac, Peru
- August 9, 2001, Antabama, Peru
- December 1, 2016, Puno, Lampa, Peru
- March 1, 2019, Arequipa, Peru
- April 17, 2024, Quispicanchi, Peru
More
Significant earthquakes of 1581The 1500sRecent earthquakes near here
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 773.